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Superfast IX, for the moment the newest vessel in the Attica Enterprises’ fleet, last month began service on the new Germany-Sweden route between the port of Sodertalje, in the greater Stockholm area and the port of Rostock, Germany. The new service represents the second stage of the company’s expansion into the Baltic Sea.

Construction of the first phase of a new system that will modernize the way ships sail Greek seas gets underway this month. Called Vessel Traffic Management and Information System, the control center will track vessels sailing Greek waters from four main harbor points – Piraeus, Patras, Igoumenitsa and Corfu.

European Union travel agencies may be suffering somewhat financially, but for the moment the repercussions from the September terrorism attack are not near as bad as first anticipated, said Carl Axel Rheborg, president of ECTAA, which is the group of national agents and tour operators’ associations within the European Union.

The first phase of the bidding process for the privatization of the Alimos, Floisvos and Zea marinas conducted by the Hellenic Tourism Properties is completed. And some very powerful business groups are among those that will continue to participate in the final stage.

Superfast XII slid gracefully down the slipway of the yard into the waters of the Baltic Sea last month. Attica Enterprises, the holding company for Superfast Ferries, said its newest super-fast vessel is due for delivery from the Flender Werft shipyards in Lubeck, Germany, in the second quarter of 2002.

Talk around the Piraeus harbor area these days centers on a plethora of meetings being held in a general effort to form new coastal shipping alliances and merges, such as the rumored alliance between Attica Enterprises (Superfast Ferries) and Minoan Lines. Then there’s the merger talks said to be underway between NEL and Dane Lines – Anek Lines holds a stake in both.

The commercial cooperation between FORTHcrs, a Forthnet subsidiary, and Sabre Hellas, a Sabre Inc. subsidiary, is now official. Both parties announced a cooperation agreement last month that centers on new and complete solutions in electronic booking and ticket issue.

An International Conference on Air Transport and Airports and their evolution in the 21st Century takes place next month at the University of Patras on December 3 and 4. Organizers expect to welcome some 300 experts in air transport from the European Union, including Greece, and other countries of the region (Southeastern Europe, the Balkans and the Middle East).

A theme park inspired by ancient Greek mythology opens in the Anavyssos area, south of Athens, in 2004 and by when all phases are fully completed, in 2006, the park is expected to attract up to 1.2 million visitors per year.

Galileo Hellas now offers an online booking and ticketing system for Greek ferry lines. The system, Ferrynet, a product created through cooperation with Anite Travel Systems, provides travel agencies and subscribers with access to seat availability, online reservations and ticketing.